Jim Ingraham: Questions surround Cleveland Indians roster plans

The Indians’ 40-man roster is at 38. If my math is correct, that means they have two open spots on the roster, meaning they can add two players without having to subtract anyone.
The waivers-required trade deadline is Aug. 31, which is also the last day teams can add players who are eligible for the postseason.
The question, therefore, is: Will they? Will the Indians make a move?
Adding players also means adding salary, which is always a consideration for the Indians. There’s also this: The Indians are likely to add fast-rising minor-league third baseman Giovanny Urshela either on or just before Sept. 1, so in reality, they have one open spot on the 40-man roster.
That doesn’t mean they can’t add more than one player before Aug. 31. It means only that if they do, they would have to take one or more players off — and risk losing on waivers that player(s) — in order to do so.
At the July 31 trade deadline, the Indians added two players to the organization: minor-leaguers Zach Walters and James Ramsey, who were acquired in the Asdrubal Cabrera and Justin Masterson trades, respectively.
Walters has hit five home runs for the Indians. Ramsey remains in the minor leagues.
It would seem logical if Indians General Manager Chris Antonetti decides to make a trade before Aug. 31, it would be to acquire a player who, whether or not he’s a one-month rental, could help right away in the Indians’ quest to reach the postseason for the second consecutive year for the first time since 1998-99.
Which leads to the question: What is the Indians’ greatest September need?
Pitching is always a safe way to go. The Indians’ bullpen is fine, but the starting rotation is still a work in progress. Over the last two weeks, the Indians’ starting rotation has been sensational.
But is it sustainable for another month? Can Corey Kluber, Trevor Bauer, Danny Salazar, Carlos Carrasco and T.J. House keep doing for another five weeks what they have done for the last two?
If Antonetti thinks the answer to that question is “yes,” then it’s unlikely he would feel the urge to trade for a starting pitcher.
If he feels the answer is “no,” there are pitchers out there who have cleared waivers, and are available for trade.
One of those who has cleared waivers, according to FoxSports’ Ken Rosenthal, is the Mets’ Bartolo Colon, who is having a nice season. Colon is 12-10, with a 3.82 ERA and a National League-best 1.2 walks per nine innings — but he also is in the first year of a two-year contract that will pay him $11 million next year.
My guess is the Indians, regardless of how good he’s pitching, probably aren’t interested in committing $11 million to a 350-pound, 41-year-old pitcher. So I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting to read an “I’m Coming Home” essay in Sports Illustrated, written by Colon.
Beyond a starting pitcher, the Indians could probably use another bat, preferably an outfielder or designated hitter, preferably a right-handed hitter, preferably capable of doing something like Nick Swisher did last September when he hit seven home runs and had 17 RBI.
The defense, of course, has been a season-long mess, and Antonetti could choose to tweak it by bringing in a glove, maybe a third baseman or shortstop.
If it saves one game in a September playoff race, it’s worth it.
The Indians tried to tweak the roster in late August last year, acquiring outfielder Jason Kubel in a trade of no consequence with Arizona. Kubel hit .167 in eight games with the Indians, and was left off the playoff roster.
In late August 2011, the Indians acquired Jim Thome in a cash deal with Minnesota that was more sentimental in nature than practical.
The last time the Indians, while in contention for the postseason, made a major acquisition at or near the Aug.31 deadline, was in 1999 when they sent two minor- league pitchers to the Orioles for Harold Baines, who as a designated hitter hit .357 with a home run and four RBI for the Indians in the Division Series against Boston.
On Aug. 30, 1997, the Indians traded a minor-league pitcher to the Royals for second baseman Bip Roberts, who helped the Indians reach the World Series by reporting to work sick for Game 6 of the American League Championship Series in Baltimore.
Tony Fernandez replaced Roberts in the lineup, and Fernandez’s 11th inning home run gave the Indians a 1-0 victory, the American League pennant, and their second trip in three years to the World Series.
Maybe that’s who Antonetti should be looking for this week: this year’s Bip Roberts.
JIngraham
@News-Herald.com
@jitribeinsider